Track Freshness

Spices rarely go bad, although they may lose their flavor and potency. The shelf life of spices varies depending on the particular spice and the climate: the warmer the climate, the shorter the shelf life. Generally speaking, the larger and more whole a spice or an herb is, the slower it loses flavor.

Proper storage methods help maintain peak flavor and aroma.

The experts at The Spice Hunter offer you the following tips to maximize the life of your herbs and spices:

Store spices in airtight containers away from heat, moisture and direct sunlight; that means away from the stove and dishwasher.

Test your spices periodically. For ground spices, shake the jar, let it settle and give a sniff. If theres essentially no scent, it should be tossed out.

If you choose to store herbs and spices in the freezer or refrigerator, return them promptly after use to avoid condensation.

Never shake herbs or spices out of the bottle directly into something youre cooking  thats the quickest way to steam and spoil your spices.

Catalog spices with the date you bought them, and tape the list to the inside door of the cabinet. This provides quick reference when making a grocery list and also helps to know when to cull aging spices.

Our newly designed consumer friendly packaging goes a step further to help track the freshness of your spices and herbs while you catalog them! The back panel of the label has a date opened panel for you to reference the date that you opened the bottle of your spice. Use a ball point tip pen to write down the date. Simple, right?